The police have confirmed they are investigating the suspected supplier of a fatal drug which led to the death of a teenage boy.

William Horley, 17, who lived in Herne Bay, died on the morning of July 23, last year after taking what he and his friend believed to be Tramadol and Xanax.

The inquest, at Canterbury Magistrates Court today (January 9), heard he had been working at the Lobster Shack restaurant in Whitstable the day before his death.

The hearing was told that the Herne Bay High pupil and a friend had bought the drugs, one being a strong prescribed painkiller and the other to help with anxiety, from a seller who had obtained them from the dark web.

The dark web is defined as a part of the internet that can only be reached with certain software, and leaving its users untraceable and anonymous.

The pair had taken the drugs during their shift at the restaurant and had gone to the harbour to have some drinks with friends from work afterwards.

William then went back to his friend's house in Whitstable and slept there.

The following morning, neither William's friend or his sister were able to wake him, and after attempting CPR, called a neighbour to help.

Having failed to find a pulse, they phoned for an ambulance which brought the boy to the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

But he never regained consciousness and died at hospital.

A post-mortem found the cause of death as a tramadol overdose as well as pneumonia, which may have been exacerbated by the drug preventing him from breaching.

William's friend who he had been working with the previous day said that they had taken tramadol in order to get through a difficult shift during the Whitstable Oyster Festival.

He said that to his knowledge William had never taken the drug before.

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Keen sportsman

DS Martin William told the inquest that he believes the tablets may have been purchased from the Netherlands on the dark web.

Police are currently investigating a teenager who could have supplied the drugs.

William had been a keen sportsman, having played rugby since he was four, boxed for Canterbury, took part in kick-boxing and MMA.

He was about to fulfill his boyhood dream of joining the army, coming seventh out of 41 applicants in his assessment.

At the time of his death he had arranged to meet with a model agency having been noticed by a scout while on holiday with his father.

His mother Kim Webster, spoke of the terrible loss of a "caring, young man" who had made one terrible mistake.

"He was a typical teenager, full of life," she said.

"I was very proud of him."

The inquest was held at Canterbury Magistrates Court

She said the pair had a very close relationship, that he told her all about his life and that it would never have occurred to him to take his own life.

"He had too much going for him," she said.

"He was ambitious. He knew what he wanted.

"He loved his sport and he loved life.

"He was just a beautiful happy boy who had a loving family around him."

'He took that chance and paid the price'

Mrs Webster spoke of her plans to hold sessions with youngsters at Herne Bay High in a bid to teach them the dangers of drug use.

"Just because Tramadol is a prescribed drug doesn't it mean it's safe for anyone to take," she said.

"William had his whole life ahead of him.

"I think it was just an experiment over the summer for him before going into the army.

"To other young people, I would say just think, take that time to think about it.

"They're taking that chance. William was a happy boy, he took that chance and paid the price.

"I just want kids to be aware they don't know what they're taking and this could happen to anyone of them."